pat him on the chest and slide by him when the door opens. I’m irritated as I leave the lobby.
The subway to Brooklyn isn’t long but it’s packed. And as per the usual now, I’m a sweaty mess by the time I arrive at Sukii’s building, with cake and chocolates and chips all in hand. I honestly can’t wait for this summer to be over.
She answers the door to the apartment still crying.
“Hey!” I put the food down and wrap myself around her. “I’m so sorry.”
“I should have known! You tried to warn me about them. And I didn’t listen.” She pushes me off and grabs some chocolate-stuffed licorice and begins pacing as she tears into the packaging. “You told me to take it slow. Not get too attached. Be smart. And I thought you were being a dick. I’m an idiot!” She takes a bite but cries while chewing. “I really liked him.”
“What did he say? Did you guys fight?” I open the chocolate cake and grab some forks, handing her one as she passes me in her pacing.
“No, everything was fine. We had a great dinner and awesome sex and then he left to play poker at Lori’s. He didn’t come back here after that.” She pauses, holding the licorice and giving me a bewildered stare. “It was the first time we didn’t sleep together since we met. So, at like two in the morning I texted to make sure he was okay. I was worried.”
“Right.”
“This morning, he replied, hours after he normally wakes up. He told me that messaging him when I knew he was out with his friends was clingy and I was being too needy and we needed to talk.”
“You checking on him after he goes randomly MIA is needy?” What a sack of shit. “God, I hate men.”
“I know, me too.”
“So you guys met this afternoon?”
“Yeah. He asked if we could meet in the park, which was weird. It’s so far from my place. I had to ride the subway in and walk across the park to meet him right next to his building. Like he couldn’t even meet me halfway?”
“That is unlike him.” My stomach hurts as a forlorn expression washes over her, freezing her in place again.
“That’s what I thought too. But when I got there, he was so cold. He told me he thought this was a fling, nothing more. And he wasn’t ready for a relationship. I stared at him like a moron because I honestly had no idea that’s how he felt.” She closes her eyes, squeezing as tears stream her cheeks. “I’m such an idiot.”
“You are not an idiot.” I rush her, hugging her again. I struggle to swallow the bite of cake in my mouth as I speak, “I saw him, he was into you. Whatever happened in the last couple of days, you did nothing wrong. He invited you to a wedding for God’s sake. Who invites a fling to a wedding? Who spends the night at a fling’s house every single day of the week?”
“I guess he does,” she answers weakly and sighs.
“Then he’s an asshole and not worth your time or my friendship.” I hug tighter.
“Thanks.” She nods and pulls free, walking back to the snacks, changing gears. “Speaking of assholes, what did Stan say?”
“He wants me to come back, full-time. I explained my situation and he was fine with it. He said I would have to work from home part-time after the baby is born for the first year, which I agreed to. If I take it, I’m starting as the junior exec in the beauty department, in line to take over when the senior position comes available. I’m giving him my answer on Friday of next week and start when I get back from my dad’s birthday party.”
“That’s awesome news.” She tries to muster excitement for me.
“He apologized for everything and offered me the apartment again.” I furrow my brow, confused about the whole thing. “He said an apartment is a common perk for executives.”
“You need to take it, Jenny. It’s two bedrooms and it’s close enough to Lori that you guys can co-parent. You’d be stupid not to take it.” She takes a bite of cake and chews slowly. “You were right, you can’t trust hockey players. You don’t want to end up like me, but with a kid.”
Her words are knives in my stomach.
“I’m still reading over the contract.” I smile and change the subject, “Wanna watch a movie?”
“Okay. Jane